Björk Reveals Full Scope of Biophilia

We knew Björk's Biophilia project was going to be ambitious. But we didn't know it was going to be this ambitious. According to a press release, Biophilia consists of "a studio album, apps, a new website, custom-made musical instruments, live shows and educational workshops," not to mention a documentary film. Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal recently spoke to Björk about the project; read the interview here. More details below.The actual 10-song Biophilia album, rumored to be coming out September 26 on One Little Indian/Nonesuch, is just the beginning. As previously reported, Björk will also release Biophilia as an "app album"-- a bundle of 10 iPad apps, with one for each song on the album. Each app will feature "an interactive game based on the song's scientific and musical subject matter, a musical animation of the song, an animated score, lyrics, and an academic essay," according to a press release.

BNM'ed first single ["Crystalline"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12242-crystalline/ ""Crystalline"" ), which is out on iTunes now, will receive a video by longtime Björk collaborator Michel Gondry. Here's the single's awesomely nuts cover art:

And previously reported, Björk is currently in the middle of the first run of Biophilia shows, taking place at the Manchester International Festival in Manchester, England. This is indicative of the way she intends to tour behind the album. Over the next three years, she plans to play six-week residencies in eight cities, all at intimate venues, to audiences of less than 2,000. At these performances, she'll use the apps to perform Biophilia in full twice a week. During her residencies, the venues will also collaborate with local schools to host music-education workshops.

For these shows, Björk has commissioned the creation of a number of new music instruments. Says the press release, "Among these creations are four 10-foot pendulum-harps, in which the swinging motion plucks the strings and illustrates the songs' gravitational subject matter. There is also a unique 10-foot pin barrel harp called the Sharpsichord, a midi-controlled pipe organ and celeste (re-fitted with bronze gamelan bars), twin musical tesla coils, a hang player and an award-winning 24-piece Icelandic female choir."

Pulse Films is currently working on a 90-minute documentary about the Biophilia project. The movie will climax with Björk's first performance of the album.